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STEP - Specialized Training for Educational Professionals

Equipping educators to help struggling students find success

<< STEP 2015 Online Registration >>
or you can print and mail your registration

<< STEP 2015 Brochure >>
(this year's dates and times)

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Specialized Training for Educational Professionals

STEP is a 5-7 day course designed for educational professionals to develop effective tools that give students with learning difficulties the confidence and competence to be successful in the classroom and in life.

STEP is designed for:

  • Teachers
  • Special Education Teachers
  • Instructional Specialists
  • Educational Therapists
  • Other educational professionals

Specialized Training for Educational Professionals

In a rapidly changing world, a traditional approach to education may not be enough to meet the needs of students with learning struggles. A different approach to learning may be needed to help them succeed.  Educators will need more effective tools which include different teaching strategies and a clear understanding of assessment of their students if they are going to help them be successful.

STEP Course Training

Theory

STEP "Foundations"

All participants will complete STEP "Foundations", a course where educational professionals will develop effective tools for struggling learners.

Topics include:

  • Learning theory
  • Cognition and cognitive processes
  • Formal test evaluation and how it impacts student learning
  • Characteristics of learning difficulties
  • Essential components of an effective student learning model
  • Socratic questioning
  • Executive functioning strategies

Practice

group training sessions (choose one)

Track 1

General classroom teachers will learn:

  • Effective methods of cooperative learning
  • Strategies for differentiated instruction
  • Accommodations and modifications
Track 2

Special Education Teachers and Instructional Specialists will learn:

  • Essentials of the RTI model
  • How to use effective screeners
  • Progress Monitoring
  • Effective interventions that support the RTI model
Track 3

Educational Therapists will learn:

  • Over 10 multisensory interventions to strengthen processing abilities (the foundation for learning) and academic weaknesses. (Materials included)
  • Strategies to improve thinking skills
  • Effective methods to track student progress
  • Strategies for a successful educational therapy session
  • Procedures for educational therapist certification

Participants are eligible to receive professional development credits:  Track 1- 2 credits  |  Track 2- 2 credits  |  Track 3- 3 credits 

 

"Why is my student failing when I know I have taught the content adequately?"

"How can I help my students with learning difficulties if I don�t know the root causes of their struggle?"

"What is the difference between a learning disability and a learning difficulty?

 

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It's more than just a report card -- Statistics indicate:

  • Roughly 5,200 students in Idaho did not graduate from high school in 2011; the lost lifetime earnings for that class of dropouts alone total $540 million. (Alliance for Excellent Education)
  • 44% of women and 57% of men with learning disabilities drop out of high school. (National Adult Literacy Survey)
  • 60 % of adolescents in treatment for substance abuse have learning disabilities. (Hazelton Foundation)
  • 31% of adolescents with learning disabilities will be arrested 3-5 years out of high school. (National Longitudinal Transition Study)
  • Up to 40% of all adults on welfare have learning disabilities. (Learning Disability Institute)

As professional educators we can change these statistics, as we utilize more effective tools to impact the lives of struggling students!